Chapter 8
Isabella was frozen for some minutes until she decided to go after Vicky.
She got a head rush and went out to look for her, quite dizzy and sick in the stomach.
Victoria was already gone. When she entered the pub again, Chris was carrying Matt to a cab he and Mairead would take. They lived near the guy and would drop him home.
Florence kept staring blankly ahead, and Isa had to shake her and ask her if she was going home too. Isa wasn't good to drive and Florence ended up bringing her to her place. Vicky was up waiting for her but didn't start a fight or anything.
The next morning, Isa was alone for some time and thought long and hard about what she was doing. Vicky made her happy but she could never stop loving Florence. Isa felt she was using her and she didn't deserve Victoria. They needed to talk before she ruined both their lives.
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"We ought to talk." Victoria said while they were having dinner, "I think I can't let you do this to yourself. I know you're marrying me to forget her. As much as I love you, I can't do this to the three of us." she told Isa calmly.
"I like you a lot, Vicky, and I'm sorry. I can make you happy, just let me try..." Isa saw this was her last chance.
"I'm going to Los Angeles, Isa. This is not an adieu, we'll always be friends. But you and Florence belong together. I knew it from the beginning but I was in love and it made me selfish.", she admitted.
"Flo is with that guy now...", Isa started but Vicky cut in.
"Oh, come on, can't you see she is trying to make you jealous? And it worked!", Victoria was irritated.
"So, you're breaking up with me?", Isa couldn't help the tears from falling down.
"Yes, Isa, it's the best thing to do.", Victoria finished.
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Isa felt sorry but also relieved. She would end up making a mess if they went on with that engagement.
Back home, Florence spent the day in bed. She thought she had lost Isabella forever, and she was feeling disgusted with herself for pretending to be interested in Matt.
When the mini tour was over, she would break up with him, she decided.
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One week later, the band was going on a deserved vacation. Florence knew about Vicky going to LA and breaking up with Isa.
Matt was already out of the picture.
She hadn't tried to hook up with Isa again, the sexual tension was obvious but she wasn't going to make the first move.
Besides, she didn't know if Isa still wanted her after so much pain and confusion. Her heart was telling to risk it though.
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EPILOGUE
There was a party at Florence's, just for close friends.
Isa was there and she seemed anxious, having drunk just a glass of wine and avoiding Florence all night.
When everyone was already going home, she approached Isa.
"Will you stay tonight?", Flo asked. She was making eyes at Isa all night but couldn't even touch her arm without Isa going to the other side of the room.
"Yeah, we need to talk. It's long due.", Isa said coldly but trembling inside.
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They had a couple of beers and Isa was the first to talk.
"Listen, Florence, I love you, I've always loved you. I want to make this work. I just need to know if you will have me, if you are willing to try to commit, even if it takes you a hundred years to be comfortable to go steady, to come out or whatever...
I can wait. It has become unbearable not to touch you, wake up beside you. I miss all the little things, even our fights. There's no other person I desire but you."
Florence was touched, it was her turn to talk.
"I am willing to take our relationship to another level. I just dread hurting you again and messing things up. I can't lose you again, I'd die!"
Isabella came closer and hugged Flo. They kissed like teens anxious on their first dates.
Florence always made Isa nervous, she couldn't refrain from expressing her affection now, however.
"Listen, Flo, we're only human. Between choosing to getting hurt by you and hurting you too and making us both heal, or hurting like hell without you, I choose us imperfect and fucked up as we are. I will take the risk if it costs my own sanity. I want you in my life with all your flaws and all your virtues.
I'm all yours. Will you be only mine?"
Florence was crying by now, both were exhausted. "You always had me, even when I tried to run away, Isa.", she confessed, "My heart was always yours, I'm sorry it took us so long to come to this."
They clung to each other and would not let go this time.